Trace-supporter.



HENRY IV. KIMM, OF JOBES, IOIVA.

TRACE-SUPPORTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 633,649, datedSeptember 26, 1899.

Application filed May 3l, 1899. Serial No. 718,889. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it 77u07/ con/cern.-

Be it known that l, HENRY W. KIMM, a citizen of the UnitedStates,residing at Jobes, in the county of Guthrie and State of Iowa, haveinvented a new and useful Trace-Carrier, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to trace-carriers, and has for its object toprovide improved means for preventing accidental displacement ofthetrace-eyes from the trace-carrier.

To this end the present invention consists in the construction andarrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter more fully described, shownin the accompanying drawings, andV particularly pointed out in theappended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the trace-carrier.Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view thereof. Fig. is a transversesectional View on the line xx, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a detail perspectiveview of the guide-bar. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of theslidable cross-head.

Corresponding parts are designated by like reference characters in allthe figures of the drawings.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, 1 designates the frame of thecarrier, having the loops 2 at the opposite longitudinal ends of theframe and the transversely opposite loops 3, the former loops 2 beingadapted to receive the hip-straps of a harness and the loops 3 toreceive the back-strap and crupper, respectively. Supported upon theframe and located above the respective loops 3 is a pair ofbridge-pieces 6, and intermediate of the latter at opposite sides of thef rame are hooks 7, havin their bills extending inwardly and providedwith notches S in the lower sides thereof. Diagonal braces 9 extend fromthe opposite ends of the lower frame 1, and crossed at a central pointwithin the frame and eX- tending upwardly from the point of crossing ofthe braces is a socket 10.

Extending transversely across the upper faces of the bridge-pieces G andremovably connected thereto by means of suitable fastenings 11 is atransverse bar or plate 12, having a central opening 13 formedtherethrough and carrying a pendent tube 14C, communieating with saidopening. This tube is provided with opposite slots 15, alinedlongitudinally of the frame of the device, and is reduced at its lowerend, as at 16, which reduced portion is adapted to be received withinthe socket 10. Slidable within the tube le is a cross-head 17, having acentral operatingstem 18, adapted to project upwardly through theopening 13,-formed in the transverse bar 12, and the opposite ends ofthe cross-head provide tongues 19, which project laterally through theopposite slots l5, whereby the cross-head is guided in its movement.Inclosed within the tube 14 is a coiled spring 20, bearing at one endagainst the bottom of the socket 10 and at its upper end against thelower side of the cross-head 17 for the purpose of holding the latter atthe limit of its upward movement with the ends of the tongues 19 seatedin the respective notches S, formed in the under sides of the hooks 7.

It will be understood that the trace-eyes are adapted to be engaged withthe respective hooks 7 in the usual manner, the cross-head 17 beingdepressed by the operation to permit of the engagement of the trace-eyeswith the hooks. After the trace-eyes'have been engaged with the hooksthe cross-head will resume its normal position by the action of thespring 20, whereby the tongues 19 will be engaged with the under sidesof the hooks 7, thus closing the opening between the free ends of therespective hooks and the transverse bar 12, and thereby preventingaccidental displacement of the trace-eyes from the hooks. IVhen it isdesired to disengage the trace-eyes, it is simply necessary to pressdownwardly upon the thumb-piece formed by the upper projecting end ofthe stem 1S, whereby the cross-head is depressed and the tongues 19 aredisengaged from the hooks 7, and the trace-eyes are thereby free to beremoved froin the hooks'. It is preferable to have the free ends of thehooks 7 alined below the transverse bar 12, so that the tongues 19 mayengage the hooks before reaching the said bar, whereby the pressure ofthe spring may hold the tongues effectively in engagement with thehooks; also, the operating-stem 1S is long enough to permit ofthecross-head 17 engaging with the top of the socket lO before the upperend of the stem becomes disengaged from the opening 13, formed throughthe transverse bar 12, so that the upper end IOO of the stem may notcatch or hang against the under face of the bar and prevent thecross-head from rising into its normal position.

By reason of the bar l2 being detachably connected to the bridge-pieces6 any of the operating parts of the device may be replaced whennecessary.

The construction and arrangement, as hereinbefore described, provides aneffective and durable tracecarrier, in which the hooks thereof may beeffectively closed to prevent accidental displacement of the trace-eyesfrom said hooks and the movable parts may be readily replaced when wornor broken.

Changes in the form, proportion, size, and the minor details ofconstruction within the scope of the appended claims may be resorted towithout departing` from the spirit or sacriflcing any of the advantagesof this invention.

l. In a trace-carrier, the combination with a frame having opposite ixedhooks, of a guide-bar located transversely intermediate the hooks,provided with a vertical opening and a pendent tube having oppositelongitudinal slots, a vertically-movable cross-head located within thetube and having its opposite ends projecting outwardly through therespective slots in the tube, and an operatingstem carried by thecross-head and projecting upward through the opening in the guidebar,the opposite projecting ends of the crosshead being adapted to formtongues which are normally held in engagement with the under sides ofthe respective hooks, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a trace-carrier, the combination with the frame thereof havingopposite fixed hooks and a socket located intermediate of the hooks, ofa guide-bar located transversely between the hooks alined above thesocket and provided intermediate of its ends with a vertical opening, apendent tube in communication with said opening, provided with oppositelongitudinal slots and having its lower end seated within the socket, averticallymovable cross-head arranged within the tube having itsopposite ends projecting outwardly through the respective slots formedin the tube, and provided with an operating-stem projecting upwardlythrough the opening formed in the guide-bar, and a coiled spring housedwithin the tube and bearing at one end against the bottom of the socketand at the other end against the lower side of .the cross-head, wherebythe latter is normally held in engagement with the hooks, substantiallyas shown and described.

3. In a trace-carrier, the combination with the frame thereof, of hookssupported thereby, transversely opposite bridge-pieces provided upon theframe and extending longitudinally of the same, a guide-bar removablysecured to the bridge-pieces, extending transversely between the hooks,and provided with a central opening, and a vertically-movable crosshead,having an operating-stein projecting upwardly through the opening in theguidebar, the opposite'ends of the cross-head being normally inengagement with the under sides of the respective hooks, substantiallyas and for the purpose set forth.

4. In a trace-carrier, the combination with a frame, having a socketlocated centrally thereof, of opposite hooks supported upon the frame,transversely opposite bridge-pieces provided upon the frame andextending longitudinally at opposite sides of the hooks, a guide-barconnected to rthe bridge-pieces,

.transversely between the hooks, and provided intermediate of its endswith a vertical opening, a tube pendent from the guide-bar,

and provided with opposite longitudinal slots alined with the hooks, thelower end of the tube being situated within the socket, avertically-movable cross-head received within the tube, having itsopposite ends projecting through the slots and in normal engagement withthe respective hooks, and provided with an operating-stern projectingupwardly through the opening in the guide-bar, and a coiled springhoused within the tube and adapted to hold the cross-head in its normalelevated position, substantially as shown and described.

In testimong that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

HENRY W1 KIMM.

Vitnesses:

Guo. A. REIMERS, GUS MARTEN.

